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Saturday, February 15, 2025

The Front Office | Suck, Bang, Blow

The Front Office | Suck, Bang, Blow
Monday, October 1, 2018

“The Front Office” is your worldly salvation when it comes to answering questions about jump pilots and piloting. We talk about what exactly pilots do behind the scenes to make your favorite time of week happen. We talk about what they see, what decisions they face and why they might be in a bad mood between loads. We talk about why you are wrong if you haven’t seen “Top Gun.” Mostly, you get a one-of-a-kind inside view from the one seat in the airplane you never get to be in.

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Keep an Eye Out | Closing-Loop Length

Keep an Eye Out | Closing-Loop Length
Monday, October 1, 2018

A senior parachute rigger received this harness and container for some work, and when he closed the rig following the repairs, he discovered that the main closing loop was more than two inches too long. The main closing pin had no tension on it at all in this configuration. He shortened the loop to the correct length and helped the owner of the rig understand why it is essential for everyone in the airplane and on the skydive to have the proper tension on the closing pin to prevent an inadvertent container opening.

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Article rating: 4.3

Safety Check | Target Fixation

Safety Check | Target Fixation
Monday, October 1, 2018

Wikipedia defines target fixation as “an attentional phenomenon observed in humans in which an individual becomes so focused on an observed object (be it a target or hazard) that they inadvertently increase their risk of colliding with the object.” Motorcyclists, automobile drivers and even fighter pilots flying strafing runs during World War II have focused so intently on an impending hazard that they actually maneuvered directly into it. And skydivers fall prey to the phenomenon, too.

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Article rating: 2.5

Rating Corner | Wind-Tunnel Training And The First Skydive

Rating Corner | Wind-Tunnel Training And The First Skydive
Monday, October 1, 2018

At the July 13-15 USPA Board meeting in Milwaukee, the board passed a motion to change the Basic Safety Requirements regarding accelerated freefall student training. The new language spells out the minimum requirements for students who train in wind tunnels before they make their first jumps with only one AFF instructor.

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Article rating: 5.0

Should I Consider Adjusting The Activation Altitude Of My Automatic Activation Device?

Should I Consider Adjusting The Activation Altitude Of My Automatic Activation Device?
Thursday, September 13, 2018

There are several modern AADs available for skydivers to choose from, all of which offer jumpers the ability to offset the activation altitude (temporarily change the activation-altitude settings to compensate for a landing area that is higher or lower than the point of departure). Additionally, both the Airtec CYPRES 2 and the Advanced Aerospace Designs Vigil 2+ offer a feature that allows users to increase the activation altitude semi-permanently (until the user changes it again).

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Article rating: 2.1
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